Stephen Strasburg is back on the mound again for the Nats. This will start No. 3 in his return from Tommy John surgery. An extra day of rest this time after Strasburg pitched against the Houston Astros last Sunday. He lasted just three innings with a relatively high pitch count (57).
Washington manager Davey Johnson says Strasburg will go on five days rest again and pitch next Friday at home against Atlanta. No decision yet on a final start at Florida on Sept. 28. That’s the last game of the season, but John Lannan is the scheduled starter for that one. As long as Strasburg comes through the next two games healthy, though, you’d have to figure the Nats will get Strasburg one more shot to build on his innings total. Even an extra five or six will help.
“I’ve got a much longer leash. I can probably get him over 70 [pitches]. It’s just really going to depend on what I’m seeing. I was more worried his first two times out in the big leagues with the pressure and all the publicity. I didn’t want to take him to where he was tired.”
In two starts Strasburg has two no-decisions. He’s pitched eight innings total with one run allowed on five hits. Strasburg has yet to issue a walk and has eight strikeouts. His ERA is 1.13. Johnson added that Tom Milone and Ross Detwiler are the scheduled starters for Tuesday’s doubleheader at Philadelphia. Brad Peacock goes on Wednesday against the Phillies.
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